Basketball teams hoping to give back with Christmas Memories program

A usually busy time for the Oak Ridge basketball teams, the Christmas holiday has signaled much more than just tournaments and practices to gear up for the rest of the upcoming season.

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By Robert Holder

Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

By Robert Holder

Posted Dec. 7, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Updated Dec 7, 2012 at 3:53 PM

By Robert Holder

Posted Dec. 7, 2012 at 3:47 PM
Updated Dec 7, 2012 at 3:53 PM

OAK RIDGE

A usually busy time for the Oak Ridge basketball teams, the Christmas holiday has signaled much more than just tournaments and practices to gear up for the rest of the upcoming season.

For the past two years, the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats have spent one afternoon helping some of the younger and less fortunate of Oak Ridge have a better holiday season with their program Christmas Memories.

The program asks for donations to make children’s Christmas morning a little brighter as the Oak Ridge High School players help Oak Ridge youth pick out gifts at Walmart. This year’s goal is to reach $5,000 so that 50 kids can have $100 each to spend.

“It’s not all about us,” said boys coach Aaron Green, who started the event two years ago. “There are kids out there that are struggling. There are people out there that don’t have it as well as you do.”

In the first year, it was only a handful of children but each year it has grown to incorporate more.

“All of us take for granted a lot of things,” Green said. “To me it’s about putting others first and there’s no better time than Christmas. If we can put smiles on 20, 40 or 50 kids faces this Christmas, it makes it worthwhile.”

Green said they are not yet halfway to their goal but donations are still being taken. Any amount is appreciated and 100 percent of the donation goes toward the kids.

“Especially here in Oak Ridge, this is a great community that takes pride in its athletics and this is our chance to give back,” Green said.

To give a donation, contact boys coaches Jeremy Carringer or Aaron Green to make a donation at jcarringer@ortn.edu or hagreen@ortn.edu, or call (865) 425-9528.